1. .. abnormally dry and/or unusually warm weather sufficiently prolonged for the corresponding deficiency of water to cause a "serious hydrologic imbalance" Minnesota Drought 2012 Greg Spoden State Climatology Office Minnesota DNR Division of Ecological and Water Resources April 2, 2012

3. Drought Severity Classification Five Key Indicators Palmer Drought Index CPC Soil Moisture Model USGS Weekly Streamflow Standardized Precipitation Index Short (1 - 3 month) and Long-term (6 – 60 month) Drought Indicator Blends Supplementary Indicators USDA/NASS Topsoil Moisture Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) NOAA/NESDIS satellite Vegetation Health Indices Reality Check Maps are tweaked to reflect real-world conditions reported by contributors

4. U.S. Drought Monitor Impacts by Category D0 – Abnormally Dry Going into drought: short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures. Coming out of drought: some lingering water deficits; pastures or crops not fully recovered D1 – Moderate Drought (90% of Minnesota at D1 or D2) Some damage to crops, pastures; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent; voluntary water-use restrictions requested D2 – Severe Drought Some damage to crops, pastures; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent; voluntary water-use restrictions requested D3 – Extreme Drought Major crop/pasture losses; widespread water shortages or restrictions D4 – Exceptional Drought Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies

11. Without ample, widespread precipitation during the spring, Minnesota will face a number of drought-related issues during the 2012 growing season. The drought situation will become rapidly apparent in the spring in the form of: wildfire potential deficient soil moisture supplies (agriculture, horticulture) low water levels in wetlands, lakes, and rivers (recreation, agriculture, some water supplies, pollution dispersal) Greg Spoden, 651-296-4214, gregory.spoden@state.mn.us